Program

Omtale

Donovan Stokes enjoys a varied career of performing, composing, writing and teaching. Although known for his use of amplification and EFX, his acoustic recording Gadaha garnered two JPF Music Award rankings for Best Album and Best Instrumental Song. Described as a musician who “paints primary colours and subtle shades to considerable effect” (The Double Bassist), Stokes is also noted for his “eye-popping display of technical wizardry and showmanship” (Madison Jazz).

Dr. Stokes has given classes and performed as soloist throughout the U.S., in Mexico, and at numerous International Conventions. He is regularly seen at the Richard Davis Bass Conference in Madison, WI and at the Milt Hinton Institute (Oberlin). In 2015 he will present classes and perform at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo), Royal College of Music London, Institute Musicale Luigi Boccherini and the Paris Conservatoire.

A Full Professor at Shenandoah University-Conservatory, he teaches jazz and classical bass and acts as String Chair. He offers a range of online instruction and has created an Upright Slap Bass Instructional Video available exclusively online. As a composer he has enjoyed commissions from Barry Green, Blanka Bednarz, The International Society of Bassists Young Bass Division, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and Jerry Fuller, among others. He is also and expert in the life and work of bassist Rodion Azarkhin and writes a regular column at notreble.com.

As a chamber musician he has had the honor of collaborating with wonderful musicians including the Clyde Thomas Shaw, Fry Street Quartet, Agua Va!, members of the Audubon Quartet, Stuart Malina, Blanka Bednarz, Eriko Sato, John O’Connor , David Oui and Seymour Lipkin. Stokes also performs Jazz, Americana, Rock and Gypsy Jazz regularly and is one half of the bass duo “Two Bass Hit.”

Dr. Stokes earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (B.M.) and Indiana University (M.M. and D.M.), where his major instructors were Lawrence Hurst, and Edgar Meyer. He studied fiddle styles with Crystal Ploughman and Mark O’Connor, string pedagogy with Lawrence Hurst, Helga Winold, Inez Wyrick and Mimi Zweig, and composition with Michael Alec Rose, Michael Kurek and Mary Jeanne Van Appledorn.

Stokes is also a Board Member for the International Society of Bassists, President of the Virginia String Teachers Association, and Artistic Director of the Bass Coalition and their Annual Bass Workshop where he head a highly selective a one-week Intensive Program for advanced bassists. Visit him on the web at www.donovanstokes.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter and Periscope.